Rolling mill



March 31, 1936. .1. J. ECKFELDT A1.

ROLLING MILL 3 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed DeG. l, 1934 mi IIHIIIIIIHHHIHIIIIIIIIMIIINIHM m www ed wwwm. EFA. IEK mism J .Mer TJNF s w T. QN w m Y Q B 3.1, 1936. A` .1. J. ECKFELDT Er AL 035,598

ROLLING MILL Filed DeC. l, 1934 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 loic . JohnJ.Eckfeldt INVENToR, Nels E Fradn.

Frank A;Lawson Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICEROLLING MILL ration of New York Application December 1, 1934, Serial No.755,526

21 Claims.

This invention relates in general to rolling mills and has particularreference to a rolling mill designed for the rolling of a circular bloominto a rolled ring having an interior circumferential collar or web.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a mill of thecharacter described embodying an improved roll mechanism for efficientlyforming the interior circumferential web of the rolled ring.

A further object is to provide a mill of the character describedembodying improved roll mechanism for forming the interiorcircumferential web of the rolled ring, which mechanism is so designedas to be easily and speedily adjustable from an engaged operatingposition to a disengaged open position and vice versa, whereby a rolledring may be removed from the mill and a fresh bloom inserted in positionfor rolling with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Other objects of and advantages achieved by this invention will beapparent from the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate a present preferredembodiment of the invention and certain modifications of parts thereof.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view on the line I-I of Fig. 2 of a rolling mill embodying theinvention in the present preferred form thereof, certain parts beingbroken away and certain parts being omitted; Fig. 2 is a plan View onthe scale orf Fig. 1 of the rolling mill of Fig. 1, certain parts beingshown in section on the line lI--II of Fig. 3 and certain parts beingomitted; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line III-III of Fig. 2,certain parts being omitted; Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV ofFig. 3, certain parts being broken away; Fig. 5 is a plan view of thestructure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Fig.3 of the lower part -of the carriage; Fig. I'I is an enlargedfragmentary plan view partly in section showing one of the guide rollsand its adjustable bearing means; Fig. 8 is an end View of the partsshown in Fig. '7 Fig. 9 is an elevation, with certain parts in sectionand certain parts being broken away, of a modified construction of theweb-forming rolls; and Fig. is a similar view of another modifiedconstruction of the web-forming rolls For the purpose of illustratingthis invention there is shown in the drawings so much of a rolling millas is necessary for the proper understanding of theinvention. 'Iheimprovements comprising the present invention are applicable to varioustypes of rolling mills. In the present instance however, it isillustrated in connection with a mill of the type disclosed in U. S.Patent No. 949,279, to J. Kennedy, issued February 15, 1910, and in itsassociation with the principles of the mill of the patent provides animproved mill which not only retains all of the structural advantagesand methods of operation of the mill of the patent but in additionthereto possesses certain advantages which will later'appear. Thoseparts of the mill shown in the drawings not forming a part of the novelfeatures of this invention will now be briefly described prior to thedetailed description of the novel features of this invention.

A ring or bloom I is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in position being rolledinto a finished ring in the rolling mill. 'Ihe rolling mill comprises amain roll 2 which operates on the exterior surface of the ring I and ismounted on a vertical shaft 3 which shaft is suitably journalled inbearings 4 provided in the frame of the mill indicated generally by thenumeral 5. The shaft 3 is power driven through connections including abevel gear 6 secured on the shaft, a bevel pinion 'I in mesh with thegear 6, a horizontal shaft 8 on one end oi which the pinion 'I issecured, and a gear wheel 9 secured on the other end of the shaft 8.Suitable bearings 8a, supported on the frame 5, are provided for theshaft 8. A gear wheel IIJ is secured on a hollow extension IIa,hereinafter further described, of a power driven shaft I I and is inmesh with the gear wheel 9. The main roll 2 is thus power driven by theshaft II. It will be understood however that the power may, and in someinstances preferably will, be applied directly to the shaft 8 at its endindicated at 8b.

A carriage for the web-forming roll mechanism of this inventionhereinafter described in detail, indicated generally by the numeral I2,is disposed at the left side of the roll 2 as viewed in Figs. 1' and 2.The carriage comprises an upper frame unit and a lower frame unit(features of the present invention) which are connected as hereinafterdescribed. The lower unit is connected with four horizontal rods or longbolts I3 which extend toward the right end of the mill and are securedat this end to a crosshead III. Sleeves I5 are provided around the rodsfor holding the carriage and crosshead apart. The upper part of thecrosshead is secured to a main plunger I6 of a single-acting hydrauliccylinder I'I. The axis of the cylinder I1 (see Fig.2) is in line withthe axis of the roll 2 and shaft 3. and when liquid under pressure isadmitted tothe cylinder I'I A push-back plunger I8 is secured below theplunger I6 to the crosshead I4 and extends lon-l. gitudinally therefromtoward the right endofV the mill. The plunger I8 moves in asingle-acting hydraulic cylinder I9 At'owhichliquid under pressure isconstantly applied so that the plunger Will act, through the connectingparts, to force the crosshead I4 and hence the carriage I2 and mechanismcarried thereby away from'the roll 2 whenever pressure is released fromthe main cylinder I1. The cylinder I1 is of course adapted to providesubstantially greater power thanthe cylinder I 9 so that when theplunger I6 is moved tothe right it will readily overcome the forcel ofthe plunger I8.

Two guide rolls'20;(see Fig. 2),are disposed so as to bear ontheexterior of theV bloom'at the sides of the roll 2 and the roll mechanismcarried by the carriage I2-. Each of the rolls 26 is journalled in a`bearing on the end of one arm of a'bell crank lever 2I. The leversV 2Iare pivoted asindicated at 22 to parts of the frame 5. The other arm ofeach bell crank` lever is pivotally connected to a rod 23 which rod isin turn pivotallyfconnected to acrosshead 24 at the right end of themill. 1

The crosshead 24 is secured to a plunger 25 of a single-acting hydrauliccylinder 26 having its axis in alignment with the axis of the cylinderI'I. A stationary plunger 21 is secured to the right end of 5 a stem 28which stem -extends throughA the cylinder. I1 and plungergl and issecured to the head of the cylinder I1 at the left vend thereof. Ahydraulic cylinder cavity 29 is formed in the left end of the plunger 25into which cavity the right end of the plunger 21 extends.

Liquid under pressure is constantly supplied through a. suitable port21av formed in the plunger 21 to the-interior of the cavity .29 so thatwhenever pressure isreleased in the cylinder 26 the plunger.25 will beforced back (tothe right) and through the.connectingimechanism will movethe bell crank levers 2| so as to release the guide rolls 20 from thebloom or ring being rolled. The cylinder 26 is-of course adapted toprovide substantiallyy greater power than the cavity 29 so that ltheplunger 25V will be readily forced to the left overcomingthe powerprovided by the cavity 29 when-.fluid under pressure is supplied to thecylinder 26 and the guide rolls 28 may be thereby adjusted to variouspositions soasto aid in the attainment of the desired shape of thebloom. l

The cylinders I1 and 26 are suitably bolted at their lower portions tothe frame 5 and are connected at their upper portions byv long Vbolts 30which extend through lugs formed on these vcylinders, sleeves3l .beingprovided around the bolts 38. betweenthelugsfor holding them properlyspaced apart.- Y

A stopconsisting of a nut 32 in threaded enz gagementwith the stem 28 isprovided for limitlngthe movementof the plunger I6 toward the right andhence the movementofthe carriage I2 towardy theroll 2. A worm shaft 33.is mounted in Vsuitable bearings on the frame 5 and extends overthelnut and meshes with teethformed,cir-H cumferentially in the nut. Handwheels 34 are provided on the opposite ends of the shaft 33 so that byturning these wheels the nut may be regulated to adjust the throw of theplunger I6 and consequently the final position of the carriage I2. Y'

Lower and upper edging rolls 35 and 36 respectively are provided foroperation on the edges of the bloom. The roll 35 is carried on the rightend of. a shaft 31 which is mounted in suitable bearings 38 and 39. Thebearing 38 is movable longitudinally "of the 'mill as will presentlyappear sion IIa is mounted in a bearing 48 carried on the frame 5. Theshaft 31 is splined to the bearing 39 and extension IIa as indicated at4I so that the shaft 31 and consequently the'rollV 35 willl bepositively rotated with the shaft II while the shaft 31 may be movedaxially thereof, that is to say longitudinally of the mill. The left endof the bearing 39 is formed as a gear wheel 42-for a purpose hereinafterexplained.

The bearing 38 is vcarried on-a frame 43 which is movable longitudinallyof the mill within suitable guides (not shown) carried on the frame 5.Movement of the frame 43 is effected by piston rods 44 which connect theframe 43 with pistons (not shown) which pistons operate in hydraulicdouble-acting cylinders 45 mounted one at each side of the frame 5 atthe left end thereof?. The longitudinal positioning of the-rolls 35 and36 is'thereby controlled to accommodate blooms of different sizes. p

The roll 36 is carried on the right end of a shaft 46 which shaft ispivotally connected to the frame 43 by a suitable coupling indicatedat*v 41 and extends through abearing 48 which is disposed adjacent theroll 36. An upwardly extending pitman 49 is carried in a socket 49aformed in the top of the bearing 48. A hydraulic cylinder 58 is carriedon the frame 43 above the bearing 48. A plunger 5I operates in thecylinder 58. A socket 52 is provided in the lower end of the plunger 5Iwithin which socket the pit1 man 49 bears against the plunger.Introduction of liquid under pressure into the cylinder 50 serves toiforce the roller 36 down onto the edge of the bloom. A stern 5Ia.extends upwardly from the plunger 5I through a stuiing box 50a in thetop of the cylinder. The stem is squared at its upper end andscrew-threaded adjacent its squared portion. An adjusting nut 5Ib and alock nut 5 Ic are provided on the screw-threaded portion. The nut 5Ibstrikes against an-upwardly extending portion on the stung box 50a. tolimit theV downward movement of the stem 5Ia and consequently thedownward forcing of the roll 36.v Adjustment of the nut 5Ib willobviously adjust the limit of downward forcing of the roll 36 so thatblooms of varying thicknesses can be accommmodated. It will of courselbe understood that any other suitable means for determining the limitof the downward forcing of the roll-36 may be substituted for that justdescribed, asfor instance a yoke-and screw arrangement such as thathereinafter described with reference to the limiting of the downwardmovement of the upper web-forming roll.

A hydraulic cylinder 53 is provided on the frame 43 adjacentthe cylinder50 and a pullback plunger 54 operates Within this cylinder.

The plunger 5t is connected at its upper end with a yoke 55 and links 56connect the yoke with the bearing 48, one link extending at each side ofthe cylinder 53. Liquid under pressure is constantly supplied to thecylinder 53 so that when the liquid is exhausted from the cylinder 5Bthe roll 35 wili be raised from the bloom. The power of the cylinder 56is of course substantially greater than the power of the cylinder 53 sothat the former will readily overcome the latter when liquid underpressure is supplied to the cylinder 5B. By this arrangement theoperation of the edging rolls may be controlled at will to thereby aidin the attainment of the desired shape of the bloom.

Two guide rolls 51 are provided one at each side of the rolls 35 and 36.Each roll 5'! is similarly carried in the following mann-er (seeparticularly Figs. 7 and 8). It is pivotally mounted in a jaw 58a formedin one arm 58h of a bell crank lever 58. The lever 58 is in turnpivotally connected to a bracket 59 which is cast integrally with theframe d3 and comprises upper and lower spaced plates 59al which extendto the right from the frame and are joined at their outer edges by a web59h. The lever is disposed between these plates and a pin 58o is passedthrough the plates and lever to provide the pivotal connectiontherebetween. An adjusting screw 59o is passed through a threadedopening provided therefor in the web and bears at its inner end againstthe other arm 58d of the bell crank lever. A look nut 5% is provided forthe screw 59e. A wedge 5s@ is passed through oppositely disposed slotsprovided therefor in the plates 59a and backs up against a solid part 3aof the frame which extends between the plates 5de. The outer face of thewedge is curved and nts into a groove 58e formed in the arm 58d. Asuitable washer (not shown) may be provided on the inner end of thescrew 59e, which washer would preferably be flat on its. face bearingagainst the arm 53d and cupped on its op-posite face to nt around theend of the screw.

It will be obvious that by adjustment of the wedges and screws the bellcrank levers and rolls 5i' may be adjusted to various positions so as tobetter accommodate diierent sizes of blooms. The wedge slots will ofcourse be sufciently large to provide the necessary clearance formovement of the wedges during adjustment. By adjustment of the positionof the frame 133 the operation of the guide rolls 57 may be controlledto thereby aid in the attainment of the desired shape of the bloom.

While the aforedescribed parts provide a practical means for manuallyadjusting the positions of the guide rolls 51, it will be understoodthat any of the various other arrangements for adjusting the guiderolls, which arrangements are well known in the art, .may be substitutedtherefor permitting the rolls to be adjusted either manually orautomatically with movements of the frame :i3 in which latter case ofcourse the rolls will be moved toward each other along diverging linessimultaneously with the movement of the frame i3 toward the main roll 2.

In the operation of the apparatus the rolls 5l bear against the exteriorsurface of the bloom opposite th respective rolls 20 and at the sides ofthe rolls 55 and 3E and are moved away from or toward the roll 2 inunison when the frame 43 is correspondingly moved. The principal purposeof the guide rolls is to assist in holding the bloom in its properposition.

Coming now to the particular parts of the mill embodying the novelfeatures of the present invention, that is to say the improved interiorcircumferential web-forming mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 6,the desired contour of the web is produced by a lower roll 55 and anupper roll tl carried, as will be presently described, by the carriagel2.

An arbor 62 is integrally formed on the roll 59 and extends upwardlytherefrom axially thereof into a socketn53 which is formed in the roll Ashank 563 is also integrally formed on the roll 55 and extendsdownwardly therefrom axially thereof. Both of the rolls 55 and 6I arevertically adjustable as will presently appear.

A vertical rotary shaft 55 is mounted in upper, middle and lowerbearings 5l, 58 and E9 respectively which areformed in the lower frameunit, indicated generally by the numeral 56, of the carriage i2. Asuitable bushing is provided in each of these three bearings. The upperend of the shaft 55 is enlarged and formed as a sleeve iii into whichthe shank extends. Vertical slots are formed in the .sleeve lil' and theshank 65 and a driving key l! is provided in these slots so that theroll @il will rotate with the shaft 55. In certain cases where it is notdesirable to supply rotating power to the roll 60, the action of thebioom being rolled will rotate the roll SS and the shaft 65 will berotated by virtue 'ii ci the driving key thus securing proper journalaction in the three bearings of the shaft. n this case the motorconnections with the shaft 55 would of course be eliminated.

A cylindrical thrust block 'l2 is provided in the lower bearing 69beneath the lower end of the shaft e5, the bushing in this bearingsurrounding bcth the lower end of the Shaft 65 and the block l2. Asuitable thrust washer 'i3 is disposed between the adjacent ends of theblock fr and shaft. The lower end of the thrust block l2 rests on thehorizontal upper surface of a wedge block 16. The wedge block 76 is ofrectangular shape in its horizontal cross section and is adapted toslide vertically in a correspondinglv s shaped cavity 'lf3 provided inthe lower frame unit G5 as hereinafter further mentioned. The lowersurface of the block i6 is slanted and engages a slanting upper surfaceof a wedge Tl which is disposed below the block 1E. adapted to slidehorizontally on a part of the lower frame unit EEE in a suitable cavity'Ha provided in this unit as hereinafter further mentioned. Since thedistance from front to back (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the wedge block'IIS is the same as the dis-tance from front to back of the wedge 'il'and of their corresponding working cavities 'M and lla, and as thisdistance is not as great as the diameter of the thrust block l2,counter-bored recesses indicated at 'l5 and 15a are formed in the frontand back faces of the cavity 'M extending downwardly from the topthereof. These recesses are bored to a diameter equal to the diameter ofthe thrust block 'i2 and to a depth suiiicient to permit the thrustblock 72 and consequently the shaft 65 to be lowered axially the fullamount of the pitch of the slanting upper surface of the wedge 'H as thewedge is withdrawn to the right.

The wedge ll is secured at one end to a stem i8 which stem is in turnsecured to a piston 'i9 which operates in a hydraulic cylinder Stcarried on the frame unit 55 in a cavity Sila provided therein for the'cylinder as hereinafter further mentioned. The opposite end of thewedge Tl is The wedge 'il is secured to a piston 8| which operates inahydraulic cylinder 82 also carried on the frame unit 66 in a suitablecavity 82a provided therein as hereinafter further mentioned. Movementof the wedge 11 by action of the piston 19 to the left as viewed in Fig.3 obviously will effect a raising of the blocks 15 and 12, shaft 65 androll 68 These parts will drop by gravity as the wedge is withdrawn, thatis to say moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, by the piston 8|. Thecylinder 82 will be constantly supplied with liquid under pressure sothat whenever pressure is released in the cylinder 80 the wedge 11 willbe forced to the right by the piston 8|. The cylinder 80 is of courseadapted to provide substantially greater power than the cylinder 82 sothat the former will always overcome the latter when liquid underpressure is supplied to the cylinder 88.

' The bottom portion of the lower frame unit 66 is made in two parts 56awhich are bolted together by transverse bolts 86h and through which thelower bolts I3 extend. The parts 86a are bolted to the upper portions ofthe unit 66 by vertical bolts 66e. The opposite faces of the parts 68aare shaped to provide the cavities 80a., 82a, 11a and 14 for thecylinders 88 and 82, the wedge 11, the wedge block 15 and the recesses15 and 15a fo-r the thrust block 12. The cavity 11a in which both thewedge 11 and the stem 18 move, and which is at the left end, as viewedin Fig. 3, of the cavity 80a., is rectangular and only of suficientheight and width to accommodate the wedge 11 and stem 18. `This width isless than the Width of the piston 19 Thus the piston 19 is limited inits outward movement by the edges of the side walls of the cavity 11aand consequently the upward movement of the roll 68 is thereby limited.

Thrust washers of various thicknesses may be substituted for the thrustwasher 13 above mentioned in order to vary the initial and finalvertical positions of the roll 88 so as to roll webs of variousthicknesses and in various positions on the blooms.

Other means for vertically adjusting the shaft 65 may of course beprovided in place of those aforedescribed, such as for instance avertically disposed cylinder and piston mounted below the shaft or asuitably geared screw feed with an electric motor drive.

A bevel gear 83 is mounted by a spline connection on the shaft 65between the bearings 58 and 69, a Vertical slot a being provided in theshaft, and a key 83a which slidably ts into the slot being carried bythe bevel gear 83. Positive rotation of the shaft by the bevel gear isthus insured while the shaft is permitted vertical movement relative tothe bevel gear. The lower frame unit 66 is suitably shaped toaccommodate this gear. By virtue of the spline connection the shaft maybe readily raised when it is desired to change the washer 13 for thepurpose hereinbeforementioned. A suitable slot (not shown) forltheremoval laterally of the washer '53, or its replacement, is made throughone side of the bushing and its surrounding bearing 69. This arrangementavoids the necessity of the complete removal of the shaft 65 whenchanging washers. A suitable lled block, preferably of bronze, will beprovided for closing this slot. A bevel gear 84 is in mesh with the gear83 and is mounted on the right end of a shaft 85 which shaft isrotatably mounted at this end in a suitablebearing 86 carried on thelower frame unit 66 of the carriage |2. The shaft 85 extendslongitudinally of the mill as shown in Fig. 1 and its left end extendsinto a sleeve 81 with which sleeve the shaft is in spline engagement asindicated at 88. The sleeve 81 is rotatably mounted in .a bearing 89carried on the frame 5 and a gear 90 is mounted on the right end of thissleeve. The gear 90 is in mesh with the gear 42 hereinbefore mentioned.It will thus be seen that the roll 60 may be positively rotated by powerfrom the shaft The spline engagement of the shaft 85 with the sleeve 81permits the shaft 85 to move longitudinally with the carriage |2relative to the sleeve while insuring its positive rotation with thesleeve.

A shank 9| is integrally formed on the roll 6| and extends upwardlytherefrom axially thereof into a bushing 92 which is disposed within asleeve extension 93 integrally formed on the lower end of a plunger 94.The plunger 94 operates within a cylinder 95 which is formed asl anintegral part of the upper frame unit, indicated generally by thenumeral 96, of the carriage I2. Suitable thrust washers 91 are providedaround the shank 9| between the lower end of the extension 93 and theupper surface of the roll 6|. Downward vertical movement of the roll 6|is obtained by the introduction of iiuid under pressure into thecylinder 95 which forces the plunger 94 downward. A cylinder head 98 isprovided for the upper end of the cylinder 95 and is suitably securedthereto by studs 98a. A bushing is provided in the cylinder 95 aroundthe plunger 94.

Two cylinders 99 are also formed integrally with the frame unit 96, onecylinder 89 on each of the opposite sides of the cylinder 95. A liftingor pull-back plunger |88 is disposed in each of the cylinders 99. Ahorizontal yoke |0| is disposed above the cylinders 95 and 99 and eachof the plungers |00 is secured at its upper end portion to the yoke, theportion being of a reduced diameter and extending through an openingformed therefor in the yoke and a nut |02 being provided at the upperend of the portion Two openings |03 are formed in the cylinder head 98,and piston rods |04 are passed one through each of the openings |93 andare screwed into the plunger 94. The upper end portion of each of therods |84 is of a reduced diameter and extends through an opening formedtherefor' in the yoke |8|, a nut |85 being provided on the upper end ofeach rod. The upper end portions of the i plungers |08 and the rods |04being of reduced diameters provide shoulders against which the yoke |0|bears when the nuts |02 and |05 are drawn up.

In order to limit the downward movement of the roll 6| lugs 96a areformed on the frame unit 96 one at the side of each cylinder S9 andbosses illa. are formed on the opposite ends of the yoke |0| immediatelyabove the lugs. A threaded vertical opening is formed in each boss andan adjusting screw I0 Ib, provided with a lock nut I0 Ic, is screwedthrough each opening. It will be apparent that the lower ends of thescrews |0|b will strike against the lugs 96a, so as to limit thedownward movement of the yoke |0| and consequently the roll 6| and thatthe lowermost position for the roll 8| may be varied by adjusting thescrews |0|b.

Suitable packing rings are provided at the lower ends of the plungers|00, around the rods |04 at the upper ends of the openings |03 and atthe upper end of the plunger 94, each of these packing rings beingsecured in place in the usual manner.

A circumferential groove |06 is formed in the shank 9| and holes IB'Iare formed in the bushing 92 and extension 93. A retaining plug |08 ispassed through the holes |01 into the groove l and serves to retain theroll 6| in engagement with the plunger QQ when the plunger is moved toopen position as hereinafter described. This arrangement also permits ofeasy changing of the roll 6i.

Fluid under pressure will be constantly supplied to the cylinders 9S sothat when pressure is exhausted from the cylinder Q5 the plunger 94 andhence the roll 6| will be raised. The cylinder S5 of course providessubstantially greater power than the cylinders 95 so that the plungerS12 will be readily forced downwardly overcoming the power of thecylinders SS when fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 95.

The rolling action of the roll Sl is obtained entirely by contact drivefrom the bloom being rolled and by friction contact with the arbor 2. Itwill be apparent that by suitable control of the operation of thevarious control mechanisms aforedescribed for the rolls S and 6| acontrol thereof may be effected so as to aid in the attainment of thedesired shape of the bloom.

In 9 however there is illustrated a modied construction of rolls wherebyan upper roll |39 is power driven with the lower roll I l@ which rollscorrespond to the rolls 6| and 66 respectively. The modied constructionis the same as the first described construction excepting that the arboriii of the roll HU is of increased length and the socket E2 of the rolli is also of increased depth to accommodate the arbor l i l. Verticalkeyways are forni-3d in the arbor ill and the wall of the socket H2 anda key is provided in these keyways as indicated at IES. The key isfastened to the keyway in the socket and to insure free entering of thelower end of the key into the upper end of the keyway in the arbor whenthe rolls are being closed together the lower end of the key is taperedand the upper end of the keyway in the arbor is iiared. The lower end ofthe keyway in the arbor will o-f course be of such height above the faceof the roll that when the rolls i and Hii are separated the maximumamount, at the beginning of a rolling operation, nc part or this keywayin the arbor will be exposed below the bottom face of the roll |09 sothat no metal of the bloom being rolled can be pressed into this keyway.

In Fig. l0 there is illustrated another modified construction of rollswherein an upper roll I I4 is driven by power and a lower roll H5 isidle getting its rotating motion from contact by the sloom being rolledand a shank H. Here the lower roll i i5 has no shank or arbor but acentral opening l i? is formed therein. The shank iid extends throughthe opening I Il and permits free rotation of the roll I5 thereon. Theupper end portion of the shank l5 extends into a socket ii formed in theupper roll H11 and is keyed to this roll in the same manner as describedwith reference to the construction shown in Fig. 9, a similarly formedkey and keyways being provided. The lower end portion Hrt of the shankHS is enlarged and ts within and is keyed to the sleeve 'i8 of theenlarged upper end of the shaft 65.

Horizontal aligned bearings are formed at one side of the carriage, onebearing in the upper part of the frame unit 5 and two bearings in thelower part of the frame unit 96, the latter two being disposed one ateach side of the bearing of the unit 66 (only the bearing of the unit E5being shown as indicated at IIS). A bolt is passed through thesebearings, a hinge connection being thus provided between these two frameunits whereby the upper frame unit and parts carried thereby may beswung upwardly away from the lower frame unit separating the rolls 6|!and 6l and permitting the insertion or removal of blooms or rings to orfrom operating position.

Two toothed sectors |2| are rigidly secured to tl e frame unit 96, oneat each of the opposite sides of the hinge bearing. A bracket |22 isbolted to the lower frame unit 56 and a vertical double-acting aircylinder |23 is bolted to the bracket e. piston I2@ is disposed withinthe cylinder i225. The lower head |25 of the cylinder is preferablyformed as an integral part "v if and the upper head |2| is formed as asepL nte part and is suitably secured to the cylinder by studs E2?. Anopening |23 is formed centrally in the head |26 and a piston rod |29extends therethrough and is suitably secured at its lower end to thepiston |24. Packing rings are provided for the piston |24 and around therod ls at the opening |28 as in usual practice, as clearly shown in Fig.3. toothed racks i3d, one in mesh with each of the sectors |2l, aresecured to a crosshead I3| which crosshead is in turn secured to theupper end of the rod |29. Brackets |32 are secured to the lower frameunit tio and a guide bar 33 is secured to the ends of the brackets forguiding the respective racks |39 and holding them in proper alignmentand in mesh with their respective sectors il.

Two spaced, vertical,

t will be apparent that downward movement of the piston |2f-l willeffect the upward or opening swinging movement of the upper frame unit tand upward movement of the piston will effect downward or closingswinging movement of this unit. As the combined assembly of the upperframe unit and parts carried thereby including the cylinder 95 andplunger 9@ are of considerable weight and will be swung through an angleof Su degrees, practically as much power will be required to start theassembly back from open position toward the closed position as isrequired for the beginning of the opening movement. The cylinder |23 isfor this reason made doubleacting and suitable valves of any well-knowndesign are provided for controlling the admission and exhaust of airunder pressure into and from the opposite ends of this cylinder so as tomove the frame unit 9S and its associated parts both from closed to openposition and from open to closed position. Proper cushioning of theopening and closing movements of the upper frame unit and the partscarried thereby is provided by suitable valve means of any well-knowndesign in the air pressure control pipes leading to the top and bottomends of the cylinder |23.

At the side of the carriage -opposite the hinge connection means areprovided for locking the upper frame unit 96 in closed position to thelower frame unit 66, the locking edect of which means is adapted forquick release. The lower end of the upper frame unit 96 at this side ofthe carriage is formed with an outwardly extending flange |313 having aslanting upper surface, and a corresponding outwardly extending flangehaving a slanting lower surface is formed on the upper part of the lowerframe unit 66. The adjacent surfaces of the flanges |34 and |35 arehorizontal and adapted for even engagement. The nange |35 is spaceddownwardly from the top of the frame unit 66 providing a slantingsub- 96is provided with a corresponding slanting surface |31 at the inner endof the ange 34, the surfaces |36 and |31 being adapted for engagementwhen the frame unit 96 is moved to closed position.

A horizontal, upwardly extending, converging tongue is integrally formedon the flange 35 and a complimentary groove is formed in the flange |34,as indicated at |38. When the upper frame unit is in closed positionthis tongue extends into this groove, further insuring alignment andproper positioning of the two frame units.

A U-shaped clamp |39 is shaped to t over the upper slanting surface ofthe flange 34 and the lower slanting surface of the flange |35. TheseSurfaces converge in an outward direction from the carriage and thesurfaces of the clamp which engage them also converge in the samedirection. A stem |40 is formed on the clamp |39 and extends outwardlytherefrom and is secured to a piston |4|. The piston |4| is adapted tobe reciprocated by air under pressure in a cylinder |42 which is boltedto a bracket |43 which bracket is in turn secured by studs |44 to thelower frame unit 66. The cylinder |42 is double-acting and outwardmovement of the piston |4| (to the left as shown in Fig. 3) effectsmovement of the clamp |39 away from the flanges |34 and |35 unlockingthe upper frame unit from the lower frame unit, while inward movement ofthe piston when the upper frame unit is in closed position effects theengagement of the clamp with the flanges, the two frame units beingthereby locked together as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that when the clamp is in locked position, by virtueof the iluid pressure at the left side of the piston Ml, the two flanges|34 and |35 are forced tightly together, with the tongue on the flange|35 in its groove in the flange |34 and with the surface |36 forcedtightly against the surface |31. The opposite side of the unit 96 isheld as aforedescribed to the unit 66 by the aligned bearings and thebolt |20. The two units 66 and 96 are thus secured together as asubstantially unitary structure and when horizontal adjustment iseiected, through the rods I3, the entire carriage I2 will move as asingle unit and horizontal pressure will be transmitted to the upperroll as well as the lower roll. In other words the upper roll willreceive its horizontal rolling pressure from the upper frame unit 96 aswell as from the lower frame unit 66' through the arbor 62.

The pressure fluid connections from the supply pipes to the variouscylinders of the mill are constructed as in usual practice by telescopicor swinging joints and there will be control valvesy of any well-knownor preferred design (not shown) whereby the fluid supply for the variouscylinders may be controlled.

A ring will be .rolled in the mill from a bloom at the propertemperature substantially in the usual well-known manner which isunnecessary to set forth herein. The present invention provides aconstruction which is simple and eicient in its operation and permitseasy and speedy adjustment from engaged to disengaged position and viceversa of the web-forming rolls so that the removal of a rolled ringfrom, and the insertion of a fresh bloom into operating position in themill can be accomplished with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.In eiect a composite device is provided by this'invention for formingthe interior web on the bloom, which device provides an annular groovefor the web Yand embodies two relatively movable parts, each of whichparts provides a wall of the groove which has surface contact with thebloom metal that forms the web and a wall which has rolling contact withthe bloom. A third part of the device provides a bottom wall for thegroove which has rolling contact with the bloom metal that forms theweb.

While the adjustable groove mechanism of the present invention has beendescribed in connection with a particular type of mill it will beunderstood that it is not so limited in its application b-ut in itsbroader aspect the invention may be employed with other suitable typesof mills, such for instance as that shown in United States Patent664,799 issued to F. A. Wheeler, December 25, 1900 wherein the mainroller moves toward the pressure roller. Further it will be understoodthat many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement ofparts and details of construction of the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionand that all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims are contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

v1. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced parts and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacent end facesof said rolls normally forming walls of said groove, said rolls beingadapted for rolling the inner surface of said bloom, one of said rollsbeing carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other of saidrolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts; means forsupporting said bloom with said inner surface adjacent said groove androlls, said rolls being adapted for axial adjustment to vary the widthof said groove whereby, during the operation of said mill, an annularweb of predetermined width can be formed on said inner surface of saidbloom; and means for relatively moving said rolls from operative rollingposition to sufliciently spaced relation to provide a clear, free spacebetween said adjacent end faces thereof to permit the passage throughsaid free space of a bloom both to and from operative position.

-2. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacent endfaces of said rolls normally forming walls of said groove, said rollsbeing adapted for rolling the inner surface of said bloom, one of saidrolls being carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other ofsaid rolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts; meansfor supporting said bloom with said inner surface adjacent said grooveand rolls, said rolls being adapted for axial adjustment to vary thewidth of said groove; means for moving said rolls to adjust the positionof said groove axially of said bloom whereby, during the operation ofsaid mill, an annular web of pre- Lil) determined width and position canbe formed on said inner surface of said bloom; and means for relativelymoving said rolls from operative rolling position to suciently spacedrelation to provide a clear, free space between said adjacent end facesthereof to permit the passage through said free space of a bloom both toand from operative position. t

3. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacent endfaces of said rolls normally forming walls of said groove, said rollsbeing adapted for rolling the inner surface of said boom, one of saidrolls being carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other ofsaid rolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts; meansfor supporting said bloom with said inner surface adjacent said grooveand rolls whereby, during the operation of said mill, an annular web canbe formed on said inner surface of said bloom; and means for relativelymoving said rolls from operative rolling position to suhciently spacedrelation to provide a clear, free space between said adjacent end facesthereof to permit the passage through said free space of a bloom both toand from operative position.

4. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls and an arbor extendingthroughout the space between said rolls, the adjacent end faces of saidrolls and the face of said arbor therebetween normally forming the Wallsof said groove, said rolls being adapted for rolling the inner surfaceof said bloom, one of said rolls and said arbor being carried by one ofsaid two spaced parts and the other of said rolls being carried by theother of said two spaced parts; and means for supporting said bloom withsaid inner surface adjacent said groove and rolls whereby, during theoperation of said mill, an annular web can be formed on the innersurface of said bloom; and means for relatively moving one of said rollswith said arbor and the other of said rolls from operative rollingposition to sufciently spaced relation to provide a clear, free spacebetween said roll and arbor and said other roll to permit the passagethrough said free space of a bloom both to and from operative position.

5. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositedevice providing a groove when in operative position having a wallthereof formed on one part of said device and an opposite wall thereofformed on another part of said device, the two said device parts beingadapted for relative movement to thereby vary the width of said groove,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced frame parts, one of said device parts being carried by one ofsaid frame parts and the other of said device parts being carried by theother of said frame parts; controllable means for effecting saidrelative movement; means for supporting said bloom for continuousengagement with said device, with said groove adjacent the inner surfaceof said bloom; means adapted for effecting relative movement of saidbloom and device to effect continuous and progressive engagement of saiddevice around said inner surface of said bloom whereby, by control ofsaid relative movement of said two device parts, material of said bloomcan be shaped within said groove to form an inner annular web ofpredetermined width on said inner surface of said loom; and means forrelatively moving said device parts from operative position tosufficiently spaced relation to provide a clear, free space between saidwalls thereof to permit the passage through said free space of a bloomboth to and from operative position.

6. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositedevice providing a groove when in operative position having a wallthereof formed on one part of said device and an opposite wall thereofformed on another part of said device, the two said device parts beingadapted for relative movement to thereby vary the width of said groove,said device being disposed across said space and connected to said twospaced frame parts, one of said device parts being carried by one ofsaid frame parts and the other of said device parts being carried by theother of said frame parts; controllable means for effecting saidrelative movement; means for sup porting said bloom for continuousengagement with said device, with said groove adjacent the inner surfaceof said bloom; means for adjusting the relative positions of said deviceand bloom gressive engagement of said device around said f inner surfaceof said bloom whereby, by control of said relative movement of said twodevice parts, material of said bloom can be shaped within said groove toform an inner annular web of predetermined width on said inner surfaceof said i bloom; and means for relatively moving said device parts fromoperative position to sufficiently spaced relation to provide a clear,free space between said walls thereof to permit the passage through saidfree space of a bloom both to and from operative position,

'.7. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising aframe having two spaced parts and a third part connecting said twospaced parts providing an open space between the three said parts; amain roll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acornposite rolling device providing a groove when in operative rollingposition, said device being disposed across said space ancl connected tosaid two spaced parts, and having two rolls, each of said two rollshaving a surface, the two said surfaces being oppositely disposed inspaced relation to each other normally forming walls of said groove, anda rolling surface facing said main roll, said device being therebyadapted for continuous rolling engagement with the inner surface of saidbloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, one of said two rolls beingcarried by one of said two spaced parts and the other of said two rollsbeing carried by the other of said two spaced parts; means for effectingrelative movement of said rolling surfaces and said main roll to therebyvary the distance between said rolling surfaces and said main roll;means cooperating to support said bloom with its outer surface adjacentsaid main roll and its inner surface adjacent said two rolls and saidgroove; controllable means for effecting relative movement of the twosaid spaced surfaces to thereby vary the width of said groove whereby,by control o-f said relative movement of the two said spaced surfaces,material of said bloom can be shaped within said groove to form anannular web of predetermined width on said inner surface of said bloom;and means for relatively moving said two rolls from operative rollingposition to sufficiently spaced relation to provide a clear, free spacebetween said surfaces to permit the passage through said free space of abloom both to and from operative position.

8. A'rclling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a main rolladapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position.said device having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacent end faces ofsaid two rolls normally providing walls of said groove, each of said tworolls having a rolling surface facing said main roll, said device beingthereby adapted for continuous rolling engagement with the inner surfaceof said bloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, one of said two rollsbeing carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other of said tworolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts; means: foreffecting relative movement of said device and said main roll tothereby7 vary the distance between said rolling surfaces and said mainroll; means cooperating to support said lbloom with its outer surfaceadjacent said main roll and its inner surface adjacent said two rollsand said groove; separate controllable means for each of said two rollsfor effecting movement thereof relative to the other of said two rollsto thereby vary the width of said groo-ve whereby, by control of saidrelative movements of said two rolls, material of said bloom can beshaped within said groove to form an annular web of predetermined widthon said inner surface of said bloom; and means for relatively movingsaid two rolls from operative rolling position to sufficiently spacedrelation to provide a clear, free space between said adjacent end facesto permit the passage through said free space of a bloom both to andfrom operative position.

9. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom. comprising a. framehaving two spacedparts and a third part connecting said two spaced partsproviding an open space between the three said parts; a main rolladapted for opera-tion upon the outer surface of said bloom; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device having two axially spaced rolls, one of said two rollshaving a socket centrally formed therein and the other of said two rollshaving an arbor projecting axially from the central portion thereof andextending throughout the space between said two rolls and into saidsocket, the adjacent end faces of said two rolls and the face of saidarbor therebetween normally forming the walls of said groove, each ofsaid two rolls having a rolling surface facing said main roll, saiddevice being thereby adapted for continuous rolling engagement with theinner surface of said bloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, saidsocketed roll being carried by one of said two spaced parts and theother of said two rolls and its said projecting arbor being carried bythe other of said two spaced parts; means for effecting relativemovement of said device and said main roll to thereby vary the distancebetween said rolling surfaces and said main roll; means cooperating tosupport said bloom with its outer surface adjacent said main roll andits inner surface adjacent said two rolls and said groove; controllablemeans for effecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby varythe width of said groove whereby, by control of said relative movementof said two rolls, material of said bloom can be shaped within saidgroove to form an annular web of predetermined width on said innersurface of said bloom; and means for relatively moving said socketedroll and the other of said two rolls and its said projecting arbor fromoperative rolling position to sufciently spaced relation to provide aclear, free space between said socketed roll and the other of said tworolls and its projecting arbor to permit the passage through said freespace of a bloom both to and from operative position.

l0. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for op'- eration on the outer surface of said bloom; acomposite device providing a groove, said device having two axiallyspaced rolls, one of said two rolls having a socket centrally formedtherein and the other of said two rolls having an arbor projectingaxially from the central portion thereof and extending throughout thespace between said two rolls and into said socket, the adjacent endfaces of said two rolls and the face of said arbor therebetween formingthe walls of said groove, each of said two rolls having a rollingsurface facing said main roll, said device being thereby adapted forcontinuous rolling engagement with the inner surface ofsaidbloom, withsaid groove adjacent thereto, and means within said socket keying saidarbor to said socketed roll; means for effecting relative movement ofsaid device and said main roll to thereby vary the f distance betweensaid rolling surfaces and said main roll; means cooperating to supportsaid bloom with its outer surface adjacent said main roll and its innersurface adjacent said two rolls and said groove; and controllable meansfor effecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby vary thewidth of said groove whereby, by control of said relative movement ofsaid two rolls, material of said bloom can be shaped within said grooveto form an annular web of predetermined width on Said inner surface ofsaid bloom.

11. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acomposite device providing a groove, said device having two axiallyspaced rolls, one of said two rolls having a socket centrally formedtherein and the other of said two rolls having an axial opening formedcentrally therethrough, an arbor extending through said opening,throughout the space between said two rolls and into said socket, theadjacent end faces of said two rolls and the face of said arbortherebetween forming the walls of said groove, each of Asaid two rollshaving a rolling surface facing said main roll, said device beingthereby adapted for continuous rolling engagement with the inner surfaceof said bloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, and means within saidsocket keying said arbor to said socketed roll; means for eiectingrelative movement of said device and said main roll to thereby vary thedistance between said rolling surfaces and said main roll; meanscooperating to support said bloom with its outer surface adjacent saidmain roll and its inner surface adjacent said two rolls and said groove;and controllable means for effecting relative movement of said two rollsto thereby vary the width of said groove whereby, by control of saidrelative movement of said two rolls, material of said bloom can beshaped within said groove to form an annular web of predetermined widthon said inner surface of said bloom.

12. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acarriage adjacent said main roll including a frame having two spacedparts and a third part connecting said two spaced parts providing anopen space between the three said parts; a composite rolling devicecarried by said carriage providing a groove when in operative rollingposition, said device being disposed across said space and connected tosaid two spaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacentend faces of said two rolls providing walls of said groove, each of saidtwo rolls having a rolling surface facing said main roll, said devicebeing thereby adapted for continuous rolling engagement with the innersurface of said bloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, one of saidtwo rolls being carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other ofsaid two rolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts;means for effecting relative movement of said carriage and said mainroll to thereby vary the distance between said rolling surfaces and saidmain roll; means cooperating to support said bloom with its outersurface adjacent said main roll and its inner surface adjacent said tworolls and said groove; controllable means carried by said carriage foreffecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby vary the widthof said groove whereby, by control or" said relative movement of saidtwo rolls, material of said bloom can be shaped within said groove toform an annular web of predetermined width on said inner surface of saidbloom; and means for relatively moving said two rolls from operativerolling position to sufficiently spaced relation to provide a clear,free space between said adjacent end faces thereof to permit the passagethrough said free space of a bloom both to and from operative position.

13. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acarriage adjacent said main roll comprising two frame units, one unitbeing hingedly connected with the other unit for swinging movementsk toopen and closed positions relative to said other unit; a compositedevice providing a groove, said device having two rolls, said two rolls,when in operative position, being axially spaced with their adjacent endfaces providing walls of said groove, each of said two rolls having arolling surface Vfacing said main roll when said two rolls are inoperative position, said device being thereby adapted for continuousrolling engagement with the inner surface of said bloom, with saidgroove adjacent thereto, one of said two rolls being carried by one ofsaid frame units and the other of said two rolls being carried by theother of said frame units whereby when said swinging unit is in openposition blooms may be inserted and removed, and when said swinging unitis in closed position said two rolls will be in operative position;means for effecting relative movement of said carriage and' said mainroll to thereby vary the distance between said rolling surfaces and saidmain roll; means cooperating to support said bloom with its outersurface adjacent said main roll and its inner surface adjacent said tworolls and said groove; and controllable means carried by said carriagefor effecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby vary thewidth of said groove whereby, by control of said relative movement ofsaid two rolls, material of said bloom canV be shaped within said grooveto form an annular web of predetermined width on said inner surface ofsaid bloom.

14. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acarriage adjacent said main roll comprising two frame units, one unitbeing hingedly connected with the other unit for swinging movements toopen and closed positions relative to said other unit; a compositedevice providing a groove, said device having two rolls, said two rolls,when in operative position, being axially spaced with their adjacent endfaces providing walls of said groove, each of said two rolls having arolling surface facing vsaid main roll when said two rolls are inoperative position, said device being thereby adapted for continuousrolling engagement with the inner surface of said bloom, with saidgroove adjacent thereto, one of said two rolls being carried by one ofsaid frame units and the other of said two rolls being carried by theother of said frame units whereby, when said swinging unit is inV openposition, blooms may be inserted. and removed, and when said swinginguni-t is in closed position said two rolls will be in operativeposition; means for effecting relative movement of said carriage andsaid main roll to thereby vary the distance between said rollingsurfaces and said main roll; means cooperating to support said bloomwith its outer surface adjacent said main roll and` its inner surfaceadjacent said two rolls and said groove; controllable means carried bysaid carriage for effecting relative movement of said two rolls tothereby vary the width of said groove whereby, by control of saidrelative movement of said two rolls material of said bloom can be`shaped within said groove to form an annular web of predetermined widthon said inner surface of said bloom; and power means operably connectedwith said swinging frame unit to eiect said opening and closingmovements.

15. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; acarriage adjacent said main roll comprising two frame units, one unitbeing hingedly connected with theV other unit for swinging movements toopen and closed positions relative to said other unit; a compositedevice providing a groove, said device having two rolls, said two rolls,when in operative position, being axially spaced with their adjacent endfaces providing walls of said groove, each of said two rolls having arolling surface facing said main roll whenV said two rolls are inoperative position, said device being thereby adapted for continuousrolling engagement with the inner surface of said bloom, with saidgroove adjacent thereto, one of said two rolls being carried by one ofsaid frame units and the other of said two rolls being carried by theother of said frame units whereby, when said swinging unit is in openposition, blooms may be inserted and removed, and when said swingingunit is in closed position said two rolls will be in operative position;means for effecting relative movement of said carriage and said mainroll to thereby vary the distance between said rolling surfaces and thesaid main roll; means cooperating to support Said bloom with its outersurface adjacent said main roll and its inner surface adjacent said tworolls and said groove; controllable means carried by said carriage foreffecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby vary the widthof said groove whereby, by control of said relative movement of said tworolls, material of said bloom can be shaped within said groove to forman annular web of predetermined width on said inner surface of saidbloom; and means carried by said carriage for locking said swingingframe unit in closed position.

16. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a mainroll adapted for operation upon the outer surface of said bloom; amovable carriage adjacent said main roll including a frame having twospaced parts and a third part connecting said two spaced parts providingan open space between the three said parts; a composite rolling devicecarried by said carriage, providing a groove when in operative rollingposition, said device being disposed across said space and connected tosaid two spaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacentend faces of said two rolls providing walls of said groove, each ofvsaidtwo rolls having a rolling surface facing said main roll, said devicebeing thereby adapted for continuous rolling engagement with the innersurface of said bloom, with said groove adjacent thereto, one of saidtwo rolls being carried by one of said two spaced parts and the other ofsaid two rolls being carried by the other of said two spaced parts;power means for effecting relative movement of said carriage and saidmain roll to thereby vary the distance between said rolling surfaces andsaid main roll; means cooperating to support said bloom with its outersurface adjacent said main roll and its inner surface adjacent said tworolls and said groove; controllable means carried by said carriage foreffecting relative movement of said two rolls to thereby vary the widthof said groove whereby, by control of said relative movement of said tworolls, material of said bloom can be shaped within said groove to forman annuler web of predetermined width on said inner surface of saidbloom; and means for relatively moving said two rolls from operativerolling position to suciently spaced relation to provide a clear, freespace between said adjacent end faces thereof to permit the passagethrough said free space of a bloom both to and from operative position.

17. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a framehaving two spaced parts and a third part connecting said two spacedparts providing an open space between the three said parts; a compositerolling device providing a groove when in operative rolling position,said device being disposed across said space and connected to saidtwospaced parts, and having two axially spaced rolls, the adjacent endfaces of said rolls normally form-ing 'walls of said groove;

said rolls being adapted for rolling the inner surface of said bloom,one of said rolls being carried by one of said two spaced parts and theother of said rolls being carried by the other of said twov spacedparts; means for supporting said bloom with said inner surface adjacentsaid groove and rolls; means for moving said rolls to adjust theposition of said groove axially of said bloom whereby, during theo-peration of said mill, an annular web of predetermined axial positioncan be formed on said inner surface of said bloom; and means forrelatively moving said rolls from operative rolling position tosufficiently spaced relation to provide a clear, free space between saidadjacent end faces thereof to permit the passage through said free spaceof a bloom both to and from operative position.

18. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising a pairof cylindrical rolls having adjacent ends spaced to provide a groovetherebetween, the cylindrical faces of said rolls being adapted to rollthe inner surface of said bloom, and said groove being adapted to form aWeb on said inner surface; supporting means for supporting said bloomwith said cylindrical faces and said groove adjacent said inner surfaceof said bloom; and separate means for independently moving each of saidrolls relative to said supporting means for eecting axial adj ustment ofsaid groove relative to said inner surface of said bloom whereby, duringthe operation of said mill, an annular web of predetermined axialposition can be formed on said inner surface of said bloom.

19; A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular. bloom, comprising a pairof cylindrical rolls having adjacent ends spaced to provide a groovetherebetween, the cylindrical faces of said rolls being adapted to rollthe inner surface of said bloom, and said groove being adapted to form aweb on said inner surface; an arbor adapted to form the inner wall ofsaid web, said arbor extending from the inner end of one of said rolls,and across the space between said adjacent ends; supporting means forsupporting said bloom with sai-d cylindrical faces and said grooveadjacent said inner surface of said bloom; and separate means forindependently moving each of said rolls relative to said supportingmeans for effecting axial adjustment of said groove relative to saidinner surface of said bloom whereby, during the operation of said mill,an annular web of predetermined axial position can be formed on saidinner surface of said bloom.

' 20. A rolling mill for rolling a metal annular bloom, comprising apair of rolls having adjacent end faces spaced to provide a groovetherebetween, and rolling faces for rolling the inner face of saidbloom, said groove being adapted to form a web on said inner face; aroll for rolling the Youter circumferential face of said bloom; meansfor supporting said bloom with its inner face adjacent said pair ofrolls and groove and with its outer face adjacent said roll; andseparate controllable means, one of said separate means operable forvarying the distance between said pair of rolls and said roll andanother of said separate means operable for varying the space betweenthe rolls of said pair of rolls, whereby a ring of predetermined radialthickness and a web of predetermined aXial thickness can be formed fromsaid bloom.

21. A'rolling mill for rolling a metal annular end faces spaced toprovide a groove therebetween, and rolling faces for rolling the innerface of said bloom, said groove being adapted to form a web on saidinner face; a roll for rolling the outer circumferential face of saidbloom; rolls for rolling the end faces of said bloom; means cooperatingto support said bloom between said end face rolling rolls, with itsinner face adjacent said pair of rolls and groove and with its outerface adjacent said roll; and separate controllable means, one of saidseparate means operable for varying the .distance between said pair'tween said end.- face rolling rolls, whereby a ring of predeterminedradial thickness and axial width and a web of predetermined axialthickness can be formed from said bloom.

JOHN J. ECKFELDT. NELS E. FLODIN. FRANK A. LAWSON.

